this weekend brought to you by the letter 'b'

birthday, brunch, bartle, breaking news...

another busy weekend, starting with a birthday dinner for a friend on friday night. saturday morning we ran, then heidi attended the greater kansas city area panhellenic (inter-sorority) brunch (she's currently president of the greater kansas city alumnae chapter of kappa alpha theta). saturday night we attended the bartle hall grand ballroom (a project mike worked on) gala event featuring a performance by nancy wilson.

this morning we spectated the trolley run, the country's largest (because it is mostly downhill), 4 mile run.

many of you may have seen kansas city on national news this afternoon after a series of crimes and shootings ended at the ward parkway mall, a few miles away from us. later, we found out that our elderly neighbor was at the mall and broke his shoulder after he fell while running away from the gunman. thankfully he's home and doing well.

marlboro (wo)man

Vokey LOVES q-tips! Used or new, it's all the same to her. Of course we try to keep her away from them (she knows how to open the trash can and take them out), but when she finds one and runs around the house with it sticking out of her mouth you can't help but laugh!

Best Dishes from Kansas City

To round off our month of Rainy Day Books events, Heidi and some girl friends attended the Paula Deen event last night. Paula is Chef Proprietor of the famous The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, Food Network star of Paula's Home Cooking and Paula's Party and an author. She is on tour promoting her recently released memoirs, 'It Ain't All About the Cooking'.

While we don't use alot of her recipes (although those we have tried are wonderful!), she makes us laugh alot (we love her southern sayings) and that same humor and warm personality came through last night. When she came out on stage she announced that she was 'hotter than a fat girl writing a love letter'! To make the evening even better she brought a special guest--her husband, Michael Groover! It was a fun evening with a fun lady and good friends!

have your cake...

Last night was cake class and in honor of Administrative Professionals week, the cake is office bound this morning. We practiced drop flowers, shells and piped figures so this cake features flowers with a shell border. I used Martha Stewart's one bowl chocolate cake and it's filled with an espresso chocolate frosting. Stay tuned for next week's creation. Intermediate cake decorating starts in 2 weeks!

a delicious end to the weekend

As usual, our weekend was spent moving from one thing to another. Saturday morning we ran, had coffee with friends, enjoyed buffalo burgers and brats on the patio of the Green Acres Market, got haircuts, had dinner with friends and fell asleep on the couch. This morning as we were getting ready for church, Vokey got sick again so we stayed home-dreading the worst. She seems fine and it was a one time incident. Mike went for a bike ride while I worked on Theta stuff and a few card jobs. Vokey and Mike went for a walk while I made this week's cake (Martha Stewart's one bowl chocolate). Then, I went to yoga while Mike made dinner. We tried another recipe (our 4th) from the 'Everyday Pasta' cookbook. Tonight it was Prosciutto Ravioli. from page 103.

David Sedaris

Last night Mike and I laughed along with humorist, author and radio contributor David Sedaris, at the Uptown Theater. The event was put on by our favorite local bookstore, Rainy Day Books--the same people who brought Giada last week and will sponsor Paula Deen this coming Wednesday.

If you haven't heard David Sedaris' work, click here to hear our favorite story, 'Santaland Diaries'.

Vokeylicious

I'm taking a cake decorating class so each week for the next 2 weeks, my homework is to bake a cake! I had my first "hands on" class last night (the first week was just an introduction to the supplies and frosting). We practiced with the star tip and the result was this Vokey-inspired creation (some of you may recognize the 'Hound in the Round' pattern and tote bag).

Not only am I using this class as an opportunity to improve my cake decorating techniques, I am also experimenting with new cake flavors and fillings. This week's cake was a 3 layer Toasted Almond Mocha cake (made with organic whole wheat flour) from our new King Arthur Whole Grain Baking book!

I think 'Vokeylicious' sums it up!

food for foodies

After a week with a sick dog, a sick Mike (he had a cold), and unseasonably cold weather, we were happy to be out and about once again this weekend! Vokey seems to be making a full recovery and while we're not sure if her obstruction has passed, she is back to normal!

Our weekend began with dinner at 1924 Main on Friday night. Everything was delicious, but possibly the most memorable taste of the evening was the black pepper ice cream!

On Saturday we did some much needed grocery shopping, beginning at the first day of the Brookside Farmer's Market (where we bought some organic mixed greens).

Sunday found us at a Rainy Day Books book signing event. Giada De Laurentiis was in town promoting her new cookbook, Everyday Pasta. She spent some time answering questions from the audience and then sent us all home with an autographed copy of the book. Yes, she's as petite and beautiful in real life as she appears on tv! The recipes look good. We've tried a few already (from her show) and plan to try a few more in the coming weeks. We'll give you a full report!

Man of the Year

On Wednesday Mike's dad, Gene Pollmann, was named Outstanding Kiwanian Of the Year for his exemplary service to the Ames community! We know first hand that he is deserving of this--for many reasons including his work at Ada Hayden Park, Special Olympics and Odyssey of the Mind. and who can forget Kiwanis Pancake Day?! Congrats, Gene! We love you!

sick as a dog

We've often wondered where the phrase "sick as a dog" came from, since our dog seemed to have an iron stomach. Vokey has been known to eat butter, bread dough, brie cheese, sushi and even some concrete, all without effect. The one time she was sick (after a surgery) we got her to throw up in a trash can!

Thus, we were alarmed when we spent most of Thursday night cleaning up after, and caring for, a very sick dog. A few hours and a trip to the vet later, she seemed to be making a full recovery...until we were packing the car to head to Iowa. Soon, however, she was back to her old self and we were on the road. Several more times over the weekend she got sick so we were puzzled (not to mention very worried!)

Today the vet took x-rays and found an "obstruction" which is causing Vokey some discomfort. She's home (and asleep)now but will be returning to the vet again tomorrow for more x-rays and observation. We are hoping that whatever it is finds a way out(on it's own!) very soon!

frost on the tulips

We got a late start to our Easter trip to Iowa. We were up all night on Thursday with a sick dog but after a trip to the vet on Friday for some antibiotics, Vokey seemed to be making a full recovery. On our way out of town on Saturday morning we drove past the JC Nichols fountain on the plaza and saw that it was covered in ice! Here we are in our warmest Easter clothes-and Heidi's new glasses!

a week in review

A week ago we enjoyed dinner at Pot Pie with our friends Shawn and Erin Gehle who were in town from LA. It was a wonderful evening and we made it home just in time for a spring thunderstorm. On Sunday, Mike participated in the Brew to Brew, a 43 mile relay race which begins at the Boulevard Brewery in Kansas City and ends at Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas. I stayed home and planted vegetables in our garden (it was in the 70s and 80s). On Monday, Mike came down with a cold just before the weather turned cold--we might get snow tonight!! Mike is feeling better so we're looking forward to Easter/Masters weekend with the Pollmanns. Hopefully the Easter Bunny has earmuffs!